Chapter 21

After recuperating for several days in the serving quarter, The Blind Concubine's sickness gradually took a turn for the better.

But there was still a trace of weariness on his face, under his eyes were slightly tarnished.

The Emperor came over to visit each and every day after he finished his morning court, fed him his medicine, porridge and once in a while would preach to him.

Xiao Bao did not dare to say much words. Could only stare at the tips of his feet and stood silently to the side.

The Little Prince also came to visit every day. Telling the stories of the Palace to divert The Blind Concubine from his boredom. This child, everyday no one knew where he usually went off to play, his shoes always carried in the faint scent of earth.

The Blind Concubine liked the Little Prince, whenever Rui Ze endlessly chattered and talked with his noisy voice, he would lean on the bedpost, laughing while listening.

Xiao Bao often complained and said that the little rice dumpling was being too noisy, that he might disturb his Master's resting time.

The Blind Concubine would laugh at him, "Our place here is too quiet. Upon the visit of the Little Prince, it becomes so lively."

Rui Ze turned to face Xiao Bao and stuck out his tongue at him.

General Qi also came to visit, two times.

He brought home the many days hadn't been seen Yu Li in his arm.

The Blind Concubine both surprised and happy, took over from Qi Sheng's hands his precious cat that was meowing and firmly trapped it in his embrace. Seemingly he hated so much to part with it.

Qi Sheng with his laughing tone said: "I know that you love her so much. After looking for a long time inside the Palace, found her and caught her."

The Blind Concubine replied: "Yu Li is very naughty, must have been hard to catch her."

Qi Sheng's face became slightly red, he rubbed his nose while saying, "Very true. Indeed it took lots of effort and energy."

Yu Li meowed and innocently blinked her penetrating sparkling like crystal cat's eyes.

The Blind Concubine affectionately propped her up and rubbed her nose against the tip of his nose, "You… You have troubled the General."

When Qi Sheng was about to leave, the Blind Concubine lifted up his quilt, wanted to get down from the bed to walk him out.

Qi Sheng immediately stopped him: "You just go back to rest, this way your illness will get better soon."

The Blind Concubine shook his head, he insisted: "I have been lying on the bed for several days already, my body is all stiff, and my bones feel like they can't be moved anymore. Walking for a while is good."

Together with Qi Sheng, he walked out until the gate of the serving quarter.

From the outside, the evening wind was blowing with a spell of cold air.

"General… If I have some problems that need General's help….." The Blind Concubine's light voice was fusing in the wind, "General can promise to help me?"

Qi Sheng answered him: "If it is within my ability, certainly I will be most grateful to be your help."

The Blind Concubine smiled slightly. He had been sick, all the more it made his already so thin body become thinner. His thin body seemed like it was swaying lightly. And his eye bags had become more obvious.

"I….. In that case, I will thank you in advance."

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"Master, tomorrow is the Dragon Boat Festival's day." Xiao Bao entered while holding a water melon. "The Palace is going to hold a grand banquet to celebrate."

"So fast, already the time for the Dragon Boat Festival again?" The Blind Concubine tilted his head, after a while, he burst out in laughter, "I am really in a muddle, aren't I?"

Master, how do you plan to celebrate it?"

The Blind Concubine was pondering, "Will The Little Prince attend the banquet as well?"

Xiao Bao shook his head, "He is too young to attend a banquet, his attendance is unnecessary. But General Qi seemingly has to attend."

The Blind Concubine told him: "We will just celebrate the festival together with The Little Prince."

Happily, Xiao Bao replied, "Alright."

Having porridge as their dinner, which was specially prepared by the Imperial Kitchen, the taste was light and not too strongly flavored, only a little hint of sweetness, very delicious and refreshing, suitable for a meal in the hot weather.

The Blind Concubine was in a good mood, he had already eaten two small bowls of the porridge.

Xiao Bao asked him: "Master, do you want to fill your bowl again?"

"No.", The Blind Concubine shook his head, "Tomorrow we still have to eat the rice dumpling."

Xiao Bao abruptly reminded him: "Master, remember, you have to eat lots of meat filled rice dumpling, you have to put on more flesh."

The Blind Concubine laughed at him, "I haven't eaten meat for so many years, how come I got used to it now? We will leave it for The Little Prince, he loves to eat."

Xiao Bao curled his lips in protest, "Don't trouble yourself over that little rice dumpling. Every time he asked Master to lift him up in an embrace, I am anxious that Master might collapse and be weighed down by him."

Hearing these kinds of words, The Blind Concubine couldn't contain his laughter.

At night, after the oil lamp was lit, The Blind Concubine sat on the edge of the bed while staring blankly in a daze. Yu Li was resting on his lap.

After hesitating for a long while, Xiao Bao finally came to him and called out: "Master"

The Blind Concubine opened his hollow eyes, then turned to his direction, "What's wrong?"

Xiao Bao hesitating again, "Master, since you already know that that person is the Emperor….. In the future, how will you treat him?"

The Blind Concubine caressed the soft and lithe back of Yu Li, stroking its smooth as silk fur, slowly, he said: "Initially I had a little bit of complaints, but after I came around and figured things out, I no longer hold any complaints. In the depth of the Palace, is the place of unstopping turbulence as well as great waves of darkness. We don't have anyone to lean on, it will only bode us bad rather than good. If now we could have a backing, I can at least have a peace of heart."

Xiao Bao slightly pursed his lips: "Then… How about Master's feelings?"

The Blind Concubine paused his hand's movement, after quite a while he said: "Regarding romantic feelings, I can be indifferent. Perhaps it has to do with my staying too long in the Cold Palace, my heart has frittered away."

Xiao Bao responded: "What if that person is sincere towards Master?"

The Blind Concubine laughed a bit, "Thousand pieces of gold is easy to obtain, a sincere heart is hard to get. If there is actually a person who treats me with sincerity, of course that would be good."

The sound of his voice had the same gentleness, but the expression on his face was not the same as with the former day's happiness.

Xiao Bao looked down, opened his mouth seemingly wanted to say something, to voice out his concern but found it hard to say.

In the end, he didn't say a thing, just walked out of the room and closed the door.

The Blind Concubine lied on the bed, the smile on his lips hadn't disappeared yet, hanging rigidly on the corner of his mouth.

"If he's really sincere, that will be very good", As if talking in his sleep, "If I do really have the Emperor's affection….."

Both of his eyes opened but remained blank, lacked of light, pupils were a slice of ashen white.

"Wouldn't it be the best bargaining chip?"

Yu Li made a low purring sound from its throat.

The Blind Concubine pleasantly laughed, lifting the cat which was in his bosom to the front of his eyes, "You are thinking the same, aren't you?"

This time, Yu Li didn't make any sound.

In front of his eyes was a layer of pitch black darkness, though he put it closer, he still couldn't see his most beloved treasured cat's appearance.

His heart generated a thread of uneasiness, he hung down his eyes in desperation.

"I don't need a lifetime of sincerity, even for only a while is enough", He held on to Yu Li's soft front paws, "only a while, it would be more than enough."

Didn't know what he was thinking about, The Blind Concubine was laughing, almost like he was happy.

"I only need his temporary affection, then, I will be able to send Xiao Bao out from this Palace, and send you together with him, leave this Palace and don't ever come back anymore."

He lifted Yu Li again, and placed her in front of his eyes, his tragically ashen pupils directly faced with a pair of crystal clear penetrating cat's eyes.

"If he really has a genuine feeling, I will have his favor, right?"

Yu Li made another purring sound.

The Blind Concubine firmly believed that it was answering him, happily, he embraced Yu Li tightly in his bosom, circling it tightly with his arms, as if holding the world's most precious treasure.

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The next evening, before dusk, the Blind Concubine changed his robe and donned himself in a deep blue garment. He called out to Xiao Bao to come together with him to the Little Prince's Palace.

From the main door, Xiao Bao cut off his shouting voice, with a loud voice.

Also added: "I am feeding the birds first, after this I will go there."

Laughing, the Blind Concubine teased him: "Never thought that you are this kind of serious type once you set your heart on something."